The Space Between with Dermot Whelan

Welcome to our Season 3 Finale, where davidji & Elizabeth Winkler explore the magical fusion of passion, purpose & trust. What happens when a burned-out radio presenter discovers meditation and decides to blend it with comedy? In this captivating season finale, we're joined by the incomparable Dermot Whelan, who takes us on his remarkable journey from sleeping in his car between commitments to becoming Ireland's leading voice in mindful living.

With refreshing vulnerability and his trademark humor, Dermot reveals the moment his body literally closed his throat while reading the news—an early warning sign his conscious mind couldn't yet recognize. "I was always very driven...but at the same time there was that feeling like I had one foot on the accelerator driving with passion towards my goals, and another foot on the brake." This powerful metaphor captures the struggle many of us experience when pursuing our dreams while battling self-limiting beliefs.

The conversation delves into misconceptions about meditation, particularly among men who fear it might make them "soft" or less effective. Dermot flips this notion on its head, sharing how mindfulness actually clears away mental clutter, enhancing performance rather than diminishing it. We explore the unique power of humor as "a beautiful lubricant for easing people into places where maybe they wouldn't have naturally gravitated to"—a gift Dermot brings to his sold-out "Busy and Wrecked" tour across Ireland.

Perhaps most profound is our discussion of identity and transition. After leaving a successful radio career at its peak, Dermot faced the disorienting question: "What do you do?" His advice for navigating such changes isn't about dramatic reinvention but rather "loosening your grip" on who you think you are. "That's enough. That's a place to be for a while where you haven't totally reinvented yourself...You're just letting go enough."

The episode concludes with Dermot sharing his discovery of "Akasha"—space—and how creating moments of presence amidst our distracted world unlocks insights impossible to find while constantly busy. "The more we step into that space and make ourselves OK with uncertainty...the more we can just settle into our little cube of calm."

Want to transform your relationship with busyness and find more meaning? Listen now, and discover how humor and mindfulness can work together to open your heart to what matters most.

We transform the world by transforming ourselves.
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Visit davidji.com & elizabethwinkler.com for additional healing resources.

Big shoutout to the amazing Jamar Rogers for creating such powerful music and lyrics for the official song of The Shadow & The Light Podcast!